Who is this guide for?

Snack buyers with a peanut allergy

If you need to avoid peanuts, a ‘gluten-free’ or ‘lactose-free’ label won’t help: the product still contains peanuts. The Food Allergy Foundation describes peanut allergy as an allergy to the proteins in peanuts. Also check for warnings about possible cross-contamination.

People avoiding gluten or lactose who can eat peanuts

You’re looking for information about the specific ingredient you want to avoid. Albert Heijn lists AH Unsalted Peanuts 300 g as gluten-free and lactose-free; this information doesn’t automatically apply to other variants.

Travellers who want to portion snacks in advance

You can eat peanuts and want to portion them for the journey or store them carefully after opening. Check the net weight and follow the storage instructions on the exact product packaging.

What should you look for when choosing?

A peanut-free snack

Choose this when: you or the person who’ll be eating it needs to avoid peanuts.

Bear in mind: also check the alternative’s ingredients and any cross-contamination warning.

Peanuts with a specific dietary claim

Choose this when: you can eat peanuts and are checking separately for gluten, lactose or other ingredients.

Bear in mind: a claim applies to the variant named and doesn’t replace checking the allergen information.

Unsalted peanuts

Choose this when: you want to avoid added salt and can eat peanuts.

Bear in mind: ‘unsalted’ doesn’t in itself tell you anything about gluten, lactose or cross-contamination.

Coated peanuts

Choose this when: you’re looking for a particular savoury variety and can eat its ingredients.

Bear in mind: a coating can contain other ingredients; Duyvis Cocktail Nuts, for example, lists wheat and lactose from milk.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Avoiding the right allergen Check the ingredients list for peanuts, and read the allergen information and cross-contamination warning separately. If I can’t safely eat peanuts, I look for a snack without them and also check for cross-contamination warnings. Around 36% of consumers make avoiding peanuts their priority.
A specific dietary claim Look for the claim you need on the exact variant, and also read the ingredients and allergen information. If I can eat peanuts but want to avoid gluten, lactose or animal-derived ingredients, I look for a claim that matches my specific dietary needs on the packaging. Around 29% of consumers prioritise a specific dietary choice.
Portioning and storage Check the net weight, any portion information and the storage instructions for after opening. If I want to portion snacks for a car journey, I consider the packaging and how I can seal an opened bag. Around 21% of consumers prioritise taking snacks with them and storing them.
Avoiding added salt Read the ingredients list and nutrition table for the exact variant. If I want to avoid added salt, I check this separately and don’t make assumptions based on terms such as ‘plain’ or ‘vegan’. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming ‘free from’ means free from all allergens

    Gluten-free, lactose-free, vegan or unsalted peanuts still contain peanuts. A warning about possible cross-contamination is also different from an ingredient in the recipe.

    Be clear about which ingredient you want to avoid, and check both the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging.

  • Thinking a coating only changes the flavour

    Duyvis Cocktail Nuts lists wheat-containing starch and lactose from milk. Its ingredients differ from those of unsalted peanuts.

    Read the ingredients for each flavour separately; don’t assume information about plain peanuts also applies to cocktail nuts.

  • Buying a large bag without a plan for storing it after opening

    For the AH variant checked, the advice is to store it in a cool, dark and dry place and seal the packaging well. For opened Duyvis peanuts, the Dutch product listing recommends an airtight, light-proof container.

    Portion the snack in advance if needed, and follow the storage instructions for the exact variant.

    A separate airtight storage container can be useful if you want to keep the opened packaging with you on the go.

  • Applying a safety warning to an entire brand

    Albert Heijn’s warning of 20 May 2026 concerns AH Extra Large Salted Peanuts in a tub with a best-before date of 04-11-2026. Albert Heijn says the product may contain metal fragments.

    Compare the product name, packaging and best-before date with the official warning. Don’t eat a pack that matches the warning.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

AH Unsalted Peanuts 300 g is a specific variant with clear dietary and product information from Albert Heijn.

  • Albert Heijn lists it as gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan, and provides ingredient and portion information.
  • The variant contains peanuts and may contain various tree nuts. These claims don’t automatically apply to other packs or flavours.

Duyvis

The product information mentioned covers both unsalted peanuts and coated varieties.

  • For Duyvis Unsalted, the manufacturer lists peanuts and sunflower oil as ingredients.
  • The unsalted pack may contain various types of nuts. Duyvis Cocktail has a different recipe, including wheat and lactose from milk. These are the manufacturer’s product specifications, not an independent test.

Jumbo

Jumbo Unsalted Peanuts 250 g is a supermarket own-brand option if you’re looking for peanuts without a coating.

  • Jumbo lists 99.5% peanuts and sunflower oil.
  • The variant contains peanuts and may contain nuts. A short ingredients list isn’t the same as a specific gluten-free or lactose-free claim.

PLUS

PLUS Unsalted Peanuts 300 g provides product information about ingredients, vegan credentials and storage.

  • PLUS lists 96% peanuts, sunflower oil, vegan credentials and 0 g salt per 100 g.
  • The variant contains peanuts and may contain various tree nuts. Vegan doesn’t mean free from allergens.

Lidl

Lidl Netherlands describes its 285 g unsalted peanuts as a supermarket product.

  • The product page lists the type and pack size.
  • Check gluten, lactose and allergens on the exact packaging; ‘unsalted’ doesn’t answer those questions.

ALDI

ALDI Netherlands lists 250 g of unsalted Trader Joe’s peanuts.

  • The supermarket’s product page confirms the unsalted variety and pack size.
  • This information alone doesn’t confirm specific dietary claims or tell you about cross-contamination.

Peanuts at Joybuy

This selection at Joybuy includes unsalted and salted peanuts, including peanuts in their shells. Check the ingredients, allergen information and any salt information for each variant; none of these peanut products is suitable for someone who needs to avoid peanuts.

g'woon unsalted peanuts, 250 g

g’woon unsalted peanuts, 250 g

An option if you can eat peanuts and are looking for an unsalted snack.

The ingredients are peanuts and sunflower oil. The product contains peanuts and may contain traces of cashew nuts.

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging after opening.

Joybuy
g’woon peanuts in their shells, 500 g

g’woon peanuts in their shells, 500 g

This variant is for anyone looking for peanuts in their shells who can eat peanuts.

The peanuts are in their shells and need to be shelled before eating. The product information lists peanuts and possible traces of nuts.

According to the MDL Fonds, whole peanuts aren’t a safe snack for children under four because of the risk of choking.

Joybuy
Verse Extra Large roasted peanuts, 210 g

Verse Extra Large roasted peanuts, 210 g

An option if you can eat peanuts and are looking for a roasted snack with no added salt.

The product description lists 100% peanuts as the ingredient and says no salt has been added.

Check the packaging for allergen information; the product description isn’t clear on this point.

Joybuy
ChaCha salted peanuts, 130 g

ChaCha salted peanuts, 130 g

This variant may suit you if you can eat peanuts and are looking for an individually wrapped, salted snack.

The product description lists peanuts, palm oil, salt and Sichuan pepper, and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g.

The pack contains a desiccant; don’t eat it. According to the MDL Fonds, whole peanuts aren’t a safe snack for children under four because of the risk of choking.

Joybuy
Duyvis salted peanuts, 370 g

Duyvis salted peanuts, 370 g

A salted option to consider if you can eat peanuts and aren’t looking for an unsalted snack.

The product information lists peanuts, sunflower oil and salt; various types of nuts may be present.

The product description advises against serving it to children under five because of the risk of choking.

Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are peanuts labelled gluten-free or lactose-free suitable for someone with a peanut allergy?

No. A peanut allergy is an allergy to the proteins in peanuts themselves; a gluten-free or lactose-free claim doesn’t change the fact that the product contains peanuts. Choose a snack without peanuts and also check the cross-contamination warning.

What rules apply in the Netherlands to cross-contamination warnings?

Since 1 January 2026, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has overseen the new rules for allergen information on pre-packed foods. Businesses must prevent cross-contamination as far as possible and assess whether reference values could be exceeded. The permitted warnings are ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’. These are labelling rules for businesses, not personal medical limits on what you can eat.

Is ‘gluten-free’ a legally regulated claim?

Information about the absence or reduced presence of gluten is covered by Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, which EUR-Lex states is in force. A gluten-free claim relates to gluten; it doesn’t mean that a product is free from peanuts, milk or other allergens.

How should you store an opened bag of peanuts during a car journey?

Follow the instructions for the exact variant. Albert Heijn says to store AH Unsalted Peanuts 300 g in a cool, dark and dry place and to seal the pack well after use. For Duyvis 235 g, the Dutch product listing checked recommends storing the peanuts in an airtight, light-proof container after opening. These instructions don’t guarantee how long the peanuts will keep in a warm car.

Can you give whole peanuts to young children on a road trip?

Whole peanuts aren’t a suitable snack for children under four because of the risk of choking. The MDL Fonds says this applies to loose nuts; also check the warning on the exact product packaging.

What should you do with AH Extra Large Salted Peanuts covered by the recall?

Albert Heijn’s warning of 20 May 2026 concerns AH Extra Large Salted Peanuts in a tub with a best-before date of 04-11-2026. Albert Heijn says the product may contain metal fragments; don’t eat a pack that matches this description. The warning doesn’t automatically apply to AH Unsalted Peanuts 300 g or to products with other best-before dates.